United Way of the Florida Keys announced that it will distribute a total of $145,000 in grants to 13 nonprofit agencies in 2014-15.   “We are so grateful to the many United Way donors throughout the Keys,” said Margie Smith, UWFK President. “They are the ones who make it possible for us to assist these agencies that are providing such critical services to our neighbors in need.” The 13 agencies were among 16 that applied in two United Way focus areas: programs that provide access to nutritious food for people in critical need, or early childhood/youth development programs with an educational or positive behavioral component.  

2014-15 grant recipients in the food category include: Burton Memorial United Methodist Church - $15,000 for its Daily Bread Food Pantry; Domestic Abuse Shelter - $4,000 for food for children in shelter; Florida Keys Children’s Shelter - $11,000 for food for children in shelter; Florida Keys Outreach Coalition - $8,000 for Loaves and Fish Pantry and Residential Meals Program; Healthy Start Coalition - $7,000 for food for needy families with pregnant women and children 0 to 3; Independence Cay - $8,000 for its Soup Kitchen and Community Garden; Keys Area Interdenominational Resources (KAIR) - $15,000 for its Food Pantry; Monroe Association for ReMARCable Citizens (MARC) - $8,000 for Food and Individual Training (FIT); Star of the Sea Outreach Mission - $25,000 for a Keys-wide food distribution program; Wesley House Family Services - $10,000 for its Inez Martin Nutritional Backpack Program.

2014-15 grant recipients in the early childhood/youth development category include: Boys and Girls Clubs of the Keys - $10,000 for summer program scholarships for needy children; Marathon Recreation Center - $18,000 for after-school care for children of working parents; Womankind - $6,000 for its Teen Services Program.   

The 2014-15 grant recipients were selected using a mathematical scoring model based on scorecards submitted by 11 United Way Board members who read all applications, and 15 community volunteers who reviewed applications and visited agencies in each region in person. “We are extremely proud to be partnering with these agencies that provide such important services,” said Candy Fincke, UWFK Board Chair.  “We hope these grants will help them do an even better job of serving our Keys community.”